Summary
A special education teacher from New Jersey had been battling back pain for nearly 20 years. Enduring years of physical therapy, narcotic pain medications, and a laminectomy and discectomy on two levels. Before being told her only remaining option was spinal fusion. After researching alternatives, she discovered Deuk Spine Institute and traveled to Florida, where Dr. Deukmedjian correctly identified that despite herniated discs appearing on her MRI, the actual sources of her pain were her piriformis muscles, sacroiliac joint, and facet joints. None of which required disc surgery or fusion. She underwent the Deuk Piriformis Release®, the Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy® for the SI joint, and the Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy® for the facets. All in one visit. The following day, her 20 years of pain were completely gone, with only minor post-procedure soreness remaining, and she was walking and pain-free the same day.
Transcript
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: It’s February 5th, 2025. I’m Dr. Deukmedjian, CEO and founder of Deuk Spine Institute. I’m here with one of my lovely patients from New Jersey. She came down because she’s had back pain for a long time… suffering. She works with special ed kids, and they can sometimes present challenges in terms of physical stress for her, and that makes her symptoms a lot worse. So you came from Jersey because you’ve been suffering with pain. You had yesterday the Deuk Piriformis Release®, and the sacroiliac joint Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy®, and your facet Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy®. How do you feel today?
Patient: Today I feel great. Just a little bit of soreness, but no actual pain.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: So the pain from before surgery is gone?
Patient: Yes.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: That’s awesome. Completely gone?
Patient: Completely gone.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: You happy about that?
Patient: Excited. Finally have a normal life.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Now, what else have you tried in the past for your pain that didn’t work?
Patient: So I’ve had a lot of physical therapy since I was 18, been on narcotics, I’ve had a laminectomy and discectomy on two levels, and then they just said I should go for fusion. But we did research to come here instead. As a better option.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Yeah. Your case is interesting because your MRI shows herniated discs at three levels. The doctor just looked at your MRI over there in Jersey and said fuse. But that was the wrong diagnosis. Because your disc was not the cause of pain. We didn’t fix your disc. We fixed other things below your disc, and now your pain is gone. So you don’t need a fusion. Sometimes patients come to Deuk Spine just to get the right diagnosis. Now, how long have you been suffering with back pain? It sounds like it’s been a long time.
Patient: Almost 20 years.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: For 20 years. And that pain you’ve had for 20 years is now gone?
Patient: Gone.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Isn’t that incredible?
Patient: It is. Simple procedure and it’s gone.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Anything else you want to share with the audience out there?
Patient: It was definitely worth it. Coming here was quick… done, walking same day. Next day, not having pain is way better than any other surgery I’ve had so far. So thank you.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Well, today is my birthday.
Patient: Happy birthday!
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: You are my birthday present. Your pain is gone and that makes me so happy. Thank you so much. All right safe travels home.
Patient: Thank you.
Deuk Piriformis Release® & Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy® At Deuk Spine Institute
This patient underwent three procedures in a single visit at Deuk Spine Institute: the Deuk Piriformis Release® for piriformis muscle pain, the Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy® for sacroiliac joint pain, and the Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy® for facet joint pain. None of which involved her herniated discs, despite three levels of disc herniation appearing on her MRI. This case illustrates one of Deuk Spine Institute’s most important distinctions: the ability to accurately diagnose which of the 30 known sources of back pain is actually causing a patient’s symptoms. Rather than defaulting to disc surgery or spinal fusion based on MRI findings alone. After nearly 20 years of pain, failed conservative treatments, a prior laminectomy and discectomy, and a fusion recommendation that turned out to be unnecessary, she was walking pain-free the same day as her outpatient procedures with no hospitalization and no narcotic pain medication required. Patients who have been recommended fusion are encouraged to seek a complimentary MRI review and second opinion from Dr. Deukmedjian at Deuk Spine Institute before proceeding.